Possible scam

Kezza9
Contributor
Contributor
Hi. I have listed an item for sale for the price of £400. I have received a message from someone saying they have sent a payment of £700, £400 plus £300 for a courier which they state they were unable to pay due to banking problems. The so-called buyer has asked me to send the £300 from the £700 they say they have paid me to the courier. They say that the payment of £700 will not show in my PayPal account until the payment to the courier has been sent. Nothing is showing as pending in my account. I am suspicious of this and wonder if anyone could let me know if this is a scam. Thank you
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kernowlass
Esteemed Advisor
Esteemed Advisor

@Kezza9 

 

SCAM.

 

They encourage you to accept a direct Paypal payment.
No funds or activity of the transaction shows in your Paypal account and any emails may go into your junk/spam folders.

They don't quibble on cost and may also say they can't view the item as they are disabled or working abroad or sending as a gift to a family member but they will arrange a shipping agent or courier to collect it.

You will get/got a "fake" email that looks as though it is from paypal.....it isn't because they don't have a Paypal account and have no intention of paying you.
It will say the buyer has paid ...you won't have been paid.

The fake paypal email will tell you that the buyer has paid for the item + shipping costs but you must send those shipping costs to the courier/ shipping agent via anther payment processor than Paypal or by providing some vouchers or tokens before the funds are released to you.
They are not interested in the item, they just want that couriers/shipping funds and you will never see money in your paypal balance.

Paypal NEVER tell you to send an item before the payment is showing in your paypal account.
Paypal NEVER expect you to use a rival money transfer service eg Moneygram, Western Union, Bank Transfer or any sort of gift token or voucher.
There is no seller protection on paypal for any type of motor vehicle or item that is collected by the buyer.

Delete any emails and ignore the scammers.


Advice is voluntary.
Kudos / Solution appreciated.
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